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Stakeholders push for implementation of Tinubu's VAT exemption on LPG

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Stakeholders Freight have lamented non implementation of tax waiver on imports of cooking gas by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi.

It would be recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had over one week ago, ordered an exemption of Value Added Tax (VAT) for LPG imports to crash down the soaring prices of cooking oil in the country.

Stakeholders in the industry are therefore, asking the customs chief to explain the rationale for the alleged lethargic implementation of the directive. 

Other items exempted from VAT and duty payment are LPG cylinders, cascades, gas leak detectors, steel pipes, valves and fittings, dispensers, gas generators, and trucks.

Freight Chairman, Kabir Babawale told reporters yesterday after an emergency meeting of the LPG group.

Alhaji Babawale said the Customs boss should explain to Nigerians the reasons behind his alleged refusal to comply with the directive of the presidency.

He noted that the LPG storage tanks of many of his members under the code of 73111.00.00.00  are lying helpless at the ports with increasing demurrage on daily basis, adding, "will the Customs pay for the demurrage now that it has refused to obey the directive of the Presidency? We are anxiously awaiting the implementation of this directive."

Babawale, while thanking the Presidency for its proactive decision on the exemption order believed that the development would boost the Gas Economic Policy of the government and ease off the excruciating costs of domestic cooking gas in the country.

He said: "As investors, we are ready to commit more into the business, but before then, we are anxiously awaiting the implementation of this directive. Or can we begin to insinuate that there is a parallel body to the Federal Government in Nigeria?"

Recall that in a move aimed at making cooking gas more affordable for Nigerians, the Federal Government had few days ago announced the exemption of the LPG imports from VAT and customs duty.

This decision, communicated through a letter from the Ministry of Finance, is expected to significantly reduce the cost of cooking gas for households and businesses across the country.

The Federal Government had decided to waive customs duty and VAT on importing the commodity and its accessories to crash the price of the LPG nationwide.

The report said the Ministry of Finance conveyed the decision in a letter dated November 28, 2023, and addressed to several officials, including the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, the Comptroller General of Customs, and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, signed the letter.

The letter partly reads: “In line with His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the investment climate in Nigeria, increasing the supply of LPG to meet local demand, reducing market prices, and promoting clean cooking practices, I hereby affirm Presidential directive dated July 29, 2022, with reference number PRES/88/MPR/99.”

The letter also directed Nigeria Customs to comply with the presidential directive of July 29, 2023, and withdraw all debit notes issued to oil marketers who have imported the product, using codes 2711.1.200.00 and ?2722.13.00.00 from August 26, 2019, to the present.